Modi in China: Will ‘rockstar PM’ be able to score same as he did on Weibo?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has been an avid and active user of social media for several years, attracted thousands of followers on Chines social media Weibo. PM Modi opened an account on Weibo on May 5.

This came ahead of his visit to the country. Using the Twitter-like weibo.com, Modi posted at 12.28 pm on May 5, "Hello China! Looking forward to interacting with Chinese friends through Weibo."

PM Modi is the first Indian leader to open an account on the Chinese social media.

The post was immediately forwarded more than 4,700 times and got more than 7,800 comments within three hours.
PM Modi got mixed reactions from Chinese people on the Weibo, some welcomed his "positive gesture", while many others raised issues that have posed obstacles to ties between the two countries for decades.

One post stated: "I suggest improving the social status of Indian women and protecting the safety of females! Or we foreign women will not dare travel to India." The post attracted more than 700 "likes".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened an account on Weibo with an aim to "enhance communication with the sisters and brothers of China".

PM Modi kicked off his three-day official trip to China on Thursday. This is his first trip to China as prime minister. PM Modi arrived in the ancient city of Xian, also the hometown of President Xi Jinping.

As chief minister of Gujarat, Modi travelled to China in November 2011.

During the visit, PM Modi and Xi Jinping will aim to move beyond that symbolism and take substantial steps to seal a new spirit of cooperation. Only time will tell that PM Modi will get the same response from Chinese government as he got on Weibo.

However, PM Modi has been given a hometown reception by President Xi Jinping. The personal touch given to the visit should be seen as sign of warming ties between the Asian giants?

This hometown reception also returns the favor after Modi hosted Xi in his own hometown of Ahmadebad last year. Xi was the first world leader to begin an India visit from Gujarat.

It will also be interesting see whether Chinese inclination towards Pakistan will also have any impact on Modi's visit to China.

OneIndia News

(With agencies' inputs)